Patentable/Patents/US-8497604
US-8497604

Apparatus and system for controlling power saving in bidet

PublishedJuly 30, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and system for controlling power saving. The system for controlling power saving includes: a battery supplying power; a power saving controlling apparatus including a sensing unit detecting a user's contact and generating an activation signal when a user's contact is acknowledged, a latch unit maintaining the activation signal which has been received from the sensing unit, and a switch unit disposed on a current path that delivers power, and connecting the current path according to the activation signal from the latch unit; and a microcomputer controlling an operation of the system connected upon receiving power from the power saving controlling apparatus.

Patent Claims
9 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An apparatus for controlling power saving, the apparatus comprising: a sensing unit detecting a user's contact and generating an activation signal when a user's contact is acknowledged; a latch unit maintaining the activation signal which has been received from the sensing unit; an interruption unit forcibly interrupting the maintained state of the activation signal of the latch unit when an interruption signal is received from an external device; and a switch unit disposed on a current path that delivers power, and connecting the current path according to the activation signal from the latch unit, wherein the latch unit comprises, a first inversion amplifier inverting the activation signal and transmitting the inverted activation signal to the switch unit; and a second inversion amplifier re-inverting the inverted activation signal to generate the activation signal and feeding the activation signal back to the first inversion amplifier, wherein the switch unit connects the current path when the inverted activation signal is received from the latch unit.

Plain English Translation

A power saving apparatus for a bidet uses a sensor to detect when a user is in contact with the bidet. Upon contact, the sensor sends an activation signal to a latch. The latch maintains this activation signal using two inverting amplifiers in a feedback loop; the first inverts the signal and sends it to a switch, while the second re-inverts the signal and feeds it back to the first. The switch, located in the power path, connects the power path based on the inverted activation signal from the latch. An external device can send an interruption signal to the latch to forcibly stop maintaining the activation signal, disconnecting power. The switch connects the power path when it receives the inverted activation signal.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a microswitch detecting a change in pressure in the occurrence of a contact or a non-contact.

Plain English Translation

The power saving apparatus described above uses a microswitch as the sensor, detecting pressure changes indicating contact or non-contact with the bidet.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sensing unit further comprises a terminal transferring the change in pressure detected by the microswitch to an external device.

Plain English Translation

The power saving apparatus which uses a microswitch as the sensor, detecting pressure changes indicating contact or non-contact with the bidet, also includes a terminal. This terminal transfers the pressure change information detected by the microswitch to an external device.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch unit is implemented by using a MOSFET.

Plain English Translation

In the power saving apparatus described above, the switch that connects the power path based on the activation signal is implemented using a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor).

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. A system for controlling power saving, the system comprising: a battery supplying power; a power saving controlling apparatus including a sensing unit detecting a user's contact and generating an activation signal when a user's contact is acknowledged, a latch unit maintaining the activation signal which has been received from the sensing unit, an interruption unit forcibly interrupting the maintained state of the activation signal of the latch unit when an interruption signal is received from an external device, and a switch unit disposed on a current path that delivers power, and connecting the current path according to the activation signal from the latch unit; a microcomputer controlling an operation of the system connected upon receiving power from the power saving controlling apparatus; and wherein the latch unit comprises, a first inversion amplifier inverting the activation signal and transmitting the inverted activation signal to the switch unit; and a second inversion amplifier re-inverting the inverted activation signal to generate the activation signal and feeding the activation signal back to the first inversion amplifier, wherein the switch unit connects the current path when the inverted activation signal is received from the latch unit.

Plain English Translation

A power saving system for a bidet includes a battery that provides power and a power saving apparatus. The apparatus uses a sensor to detect user contact, generating an activation signal sent to a latch. The latch maintains this signal using two inverting amplifiers in a feedback loop; the first inverts the signal and sends it to a switch, while the second re-inverts the signal and feeds it back to the first. The switch, located in the power path, connects the path based on the latch's inverted activation signal. An external device can send an interruption signal to the latch, forcibly stopping it from maintaining the activation signal. A microcomputer, powered by the apparatus, controls the system's operation. The switch connects the power path when it receives the inverted activation signal.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a microswitch detecting a change in pressure in the occurrence of a contact or non-contact.

Plain English Translation

The power saving system described above uses a microswitch as the sensor, detecting pressure changes indicating contact or non-contact with the bidet.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the sensing unit further comprises a terminal transferring information regarding the change in pressure to the microcomputer, and the microcomputer determines whether or not a contact has been made based on the change in pressure which has been detected by the microswitch and generates an interruption signal when it determines that the contact has been removed.

Plain English Translation

The power saving system which uses a microswitch as the sensor, detecting pressure changes indicating contact or non-contact with the bidet, also includes a terminal that sends pressure change information to the microcomputer. The microcomputer determines if contact is made based on these pressure changes. If the microcomputer determines the user has moved and broken contact, it generates an interruption signal.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein when power interruption is required, the microcomputer controls the interruption unit to generate an interruption signal regardless of a signal received from the sensing unit.

Plain English Translation

In the power saving system described above, if the system needs to interrupt power, the microcomputer can control the interruption unit to generate an interruption signal, regardless of the signal received from the sensor detecting user contact. This allows the system to force power saving even if the sensor indicates contact is still present.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the switch unit is implemented by using a MOSFET.

Plain English Translation

In the power saving system described above, the switch that connects the power path based on the activation signal is implemented using a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor).

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

September 30, 2010

Publication Date

July 30, 2013

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